Knockdown table



(No Model.)

G. J. KELLER.

KNOOKDOWN TABLE.

Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

weaves:

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. KELLER, OF OSOEOLA, NEBRASKA.

KNOCKDOWN TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,259, dated March 11, 1890.

Application filed June 26, 1889.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. KELLER, of Osceola, county of Polk, State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Knockdown Tables, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in knockdown tables; and it has for its object the provision of means for strongly and firmly securing the legs to the table-frame in such a manner as to secure a neat joint or finish, and, further, to compactly store the legs with in the table-frame and hold them in such position against injury while in a state of storage or shipment. WVith these primary ends in view, and such others as appertain to my invention, 1 provide a knockdown table comprising a table-frame having at its angles or corners an angular notch, the inner angles or corners of which notch extend to a point beyond the inner faces of the side and end rails of the table-frame, an angular leg fitted in said notch, and tension or straining rods passing through the legs and the table-frame to firmly draw the parts together and provide a firm and rigid structure. I prefer to extend the longitudinal and transverse tension-rods entirely along the sides and ends of the frame, so that each tension-rod passes through two legs at opposite angles or corners of the frame without passing through said frame its entire length, which might tend to weaken it; but I do not desire to strictly confine myself to this precise construction and arrangement of tension-rods, as each leg can be separately secured to the table-frame by one or more tension-rods. In order to store the detachable legs within the tableframe, and thus prevent injury thereto in the event of storage or shipment of the table, I have provided a space or apartment at one or both ends of the table-frame and a perforated or notched strip fixed within said space or apartment, near one end thereof, to receive one end of two or more legs, which are to be placed longitudinally within said space, side by side of each other, and held in place by a suitable fastening means.

To enable others to more fully "understand my invention, 1 will now proceed to a dic Serial No. 315,587. (No model.)

tailed description thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a bottom plan View of a knockdown table constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the legs secured in position. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the legs stored within the table-frame. Fig. 3 is a detail plan View illustrating a modification of the manner of arranging and securing the table-legs contemplated by my invention.

Like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 designates the table-f-rame, and 2 a series of detachable legs, forming a knockdown table as invented by me. The table-frame is substantially rectangular in general outline, although this is immaterial, and at each of its angles or corners this frame is provided with a notch or recess 3, 4,5, and 6, as shown.

The frame 1 consists, essentially, of two side rails 7 and 7 f and two end rails 8 8', which are suitably united or secured together in a suitable rigid and firm manner; but, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the end rails 8 8' of said frame are connected by short pieces 9 and 9' to a single continuous bar or rail 10 and 10, which extends across from one side of said frame to the other. The end rails 8 8' are of less length than the distance between the side rails, and the notches are formed by the ends of the rails 8 and 10 and 8' and 10 and the blocks 9 and 9, respectively, between the end rails, as is obvious.

The inner angle or corner of each notch (designated by the letter :13) extends or terminates at a pointbeyond the inner faces y and of the side and end rails of the table-frame, and these notches are of sufficient depth to almost wholly receive the table-legs within the frame and adapt the legs to lie nearly flush with said frame, while at the same time the whole strength of the frame is retained and it is not weakened to any mate-rial extent. The notches and upper ends of the legs correspond closely in size and configuration,

to adapt the legs to fit snugly within the frame and nearly flush therewith, in order to secure a neat joint and finish, and the legs are firmly and tightly drawn or bound to the frame by means of tension-rods 11 11' and 12 12, which extend through the frame both longitudinally and transversely and through the detachable legs. The rods 11 11 pass longitudinally through the frame, Within the side rails thereof, and through legs at oppo-i site ends of the frame, and the rods 12 12 I pass transversely across the frame, within the end rails of the same, and through the legs at opposite sides of the frame. By arranging the longitudinal and transverse tension-rods within the side and end rails of the frame the latter is not weakened, but its strength is retained, while at the same time the legs are firmly and rigidly bound or drawn into the notches or seats at the angles of the frame by said tension-rods, which pass through the legs.

At one orboth ends of the table-frame'l have provided a space or apartment 15 for the storage within said frame of the detachable legs. This apartment is formed by the side rails of the frame, one of the cross-rails 10 or 10 thereof, and another cross-rail 16, which is locateda suitable distance from and parallel with the rail 10 01-10. Near one end of this apartment, transversely thereof, I have provided a fixed supporting-bar 17, which is provided with openings or recesses 18 to receive one end of a series of table-legs when it is desired to store the latter in a safe manner within the table-frame for storage. These legs are arranged side by side, out of contact with each other, and the opposite ends thereof are confined in place against movement by a suitable fastening 18, which in the present instance comprises a centrally-pivoted bar or button, as is apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2.

In the modified forms of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3 I retain the angular notch in the corner of the table-frame, the inner angle of which notch terminates at a point beyond the inner faces of the side and end rails of said frame, a leg fitted in the notch substantially flush with the outer faces of the rails of the frame, and tension-rods which pass through the leg and frame. A single block 20 is employed to unite theends of the side and end rails of the frame 1, and to rails a short distance in rear of the connecting-block are fixed supporting-brackets 21 22, each of which has a perforated angle-iron 23, through which passes the inner end of short tensionrods 24 25. These rods extend for short distances longitudinally and transversely of the frame, parallel with and within the side and end rails thereof 5 but they do not extend to and connect with legs at opposite corners of the frame, and hence only serve to secure to the table the individual leg through which they are passed.

It will be understood that I preferably provide each tension-rod with a head at oneend and a screw-thread at the opposite end, an adj usting-nut being fitted on the threaded end in order to strain or tighten the rod.

I am aware that slight changes and alterations can be made in the form and proportion of parts and details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore hold myself at liberty to make such alterations as fall within the scope of my invention.

I am aware that it is not new to construct a knockdown table with side and end rails which are fitted in mortises or slots formed in right-angled faces of a polygonal leg, and to unite said side and end rails to the leg by threaded rods which pass through or are secured in the leg and to suitable brackets on the inner sides'of said rails, the rails not being directly secured to each other, but being joined by the legs; but such is not my invention, and I therefore disclaim the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described knockdown table, consisting of a frame composed of side and end rails, the supplemental rails or pieces, and the blocks, all of which are firmly and securely united together, the blocks and supplemental rails being arranged at the angles or corners of the frame, substantially as herein shown and described, to form the notches which have their inner angles or cor- 5 ners terminating beyond the inner faces of adjoining side and end rails of the frame, the legs fittedin said notches, and the tensionrods which secure the legs and frame together, all arranged and combined substan- I00 tially as and for the purpose described.

2. A knockdown table comprising a tableframe having the notches or recesses at its corners and the side and end rails united by intermediate blocks, another transverse rail :05 fixed between the side rails in juxtaposition to and parallel with one of the end rails to form a space'or compartment for the storage of the legs within said frame, a notched or recessed strip fixed in said space near one end, I 10 a fastening device for confining the opposite ends of the legs, the legs, and tension-rod, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set II 5 my hand this 7th day of June, A. D. 1889.

GEORGE J. KELLER.

Witnesses:

I. M. KELLER, H. F. HENDERSON. 

